Well i'll make this brief.I'm currently working on my first novel. i'm actually 17 years old but writting seemed to have sparked inside of me so I need some advice. Sorry can't tell you the title of the book...dont want people plagiarising my first work. Thanks.

My advice: 1. Please, no more vampires... 2. Avoid making a macho + super-cool + alpha character by garnishing his dialogues. Like "Gatorade is for pussies!" (I am Number Four). Make his actions speak for his character, not his annoying punchlines and one liners.3. A negative feedback is always the best "stepping stone." Revise, edit, reinvent.

Wow! more advice! Thanks!...Yes i'll that in mind about the punch lines. Actions speak louder than words that what they say. Oh yah the title of my novel is " Future im-Perfect"- Its not about vampires or stuff like that, its about a post-apocalyptic Philippines where my protagonist has to help fellow survivors and fight off mutated creatures and so on and so forth. If you played Fallout 3 you'll know what I mean.

(just a comment) post apocalyptic phil... makes me want to see this more, maybe after your novel you can also make a comic book adaptation

PHILantropist wrote:Wow! more advice! Thanks!...Yes i'll that in mind about the punch lines. Actions speak louder than words that what they say. Oh yah the title of my novel is " Future im-Perfect"- Its not about vampires or stuff like that, its about a post-apocalyptic Philippines where my protagonist has to help fellow survivors and fight off mutated creatures and so on and so forth. If you played Fallout 3 you'll know what I mean.

I hope you'll allow me to share with you an excerpt from one of Haruki Murakami's novels, Sputnik Sweetheart. It has a very meaningful and helpful advice on writing novels:

“A long time ago in China there were cities with high walls surrounding them, with huge, magnificent gates. The gates weren’t just doors for letting people in or out but had greater significance. People believed the city’s soul resided in the gates. Or at least that it should reside there. It’s like in Europe in the Middle Ages when people felt a city’s heart lay in its cathedral and central square. Which is why even today in China there are lots of wonderful gates still standing. Do you know how the Chinese built these gates?”

“I have no idea,” Sumire answered.

“People would take carts out to old battlefields and gather the bleached bones that were buried there or that lay scattered about. China’s a pretty ancient country–lots of old battlegrounds–so they never had to search far. At the entrance to the city they’d construct a huge gate and seal the bones inside. They hoped that by commemorating them this way the dead soldiers would continue to guard their town. There’s more. When the gate was finished they’d bring several dogs over to it, slit their throats, and sprinkle their blood on the gate. Only by mixing fresh blood with the dried-out bones would the ancient souls of the dead magically revive. At least that was the idea.”

Sumire waited silently for me to go on.

“Writing novels is much the same. You gather up bones and make your gate, but no matter how wonderful the gate might be, that alone doesn’t make it a living, breathing novel. A story is not something of this world. A real story requires a kind of magical baptism to link the world on this side with the world on the other side.”

So, putting Murakami's excerpt in the picture, I can see that you're on the right track. The challenge now is for you to find the "magical baptism"that will link this world from the world you're trying to make. Good luck!

Wow! A million thanks april and yoj. Yes, i'll probably make a comic adaption to it after I'm finish with my novel. Oh and thanks also yoj, thanks for the enlightment, you two fellas have inspired more, thank you so much